Choosing frames
ART EXPERTS DEMYSTIFY THE WORLD OF FRAMING
Before you commit to buying an artwork, keep framing in mind so that you can factor in the additional cost. ‘Custom framing can be expensive and really varies in price depending on what you need – most framers will give you a rough quote over email if you can send the dimensions, medium and any ideas you may have,’ says Emily Taylor, director of Frame London. ‘The larger a frame is the more expensive it will be – as a guide, a simple frame for an A3 print would cost around £150.’
Deciding on the place where you want to hang the piece before you go to the framers is key – take photos of the wall and surrounding area. ‘The frame’s position in the house is very important,’ says Daniel Syrett, Runway Gallery owner. ‘Objects you might not notice, such as radiators, can cause damage. If the artwork is going to go in the bathroom it needs to be sealed in a particular way and if it will be walked past a lot, how the frame is designed to hang has to be extra secure.’
A trend in contemporary framing is to colour the frame to complement tones within the artwork. ‘People are making much more bold and fun choices with frame materials and finishes,’ says artist John Booth. ‘Framers are hand-painting the frames to match the artwork, and using unusual finishes such as high-gloss paints and powder coatings. Another trend I’ve seen is multiple colours used on one frame, which I really love.’
A good framer should encourage you to take a more creative approach to framing to make it personal and unique. And choosing the right mount – the card insert within the frame – has a huge impact on the final look of the piece. Many framers now create mounts in custom colours to pick out a shade from the artwork, as well as creating subtle tones to match the material the artwork is on. ‘Why should mounts be white?’ asks designer Charlotte Rey of design partnership Campbell-rey. ‘If you want to play it safe, you can always look at eggshell and neutral tones, but I like to go with pastels like powder pink, mint or a soft yellow to make a statement.’
Traditionally, a passepartout mount – a card frame which sits on top of the artwork – was used to give the piece a crisp edge and hold it away from the glass. Float mounting is a more modern alternative, which suspends the picture in the frame so that it appears to hover. This showcases the edges and texture of the piece. ‘I recommend f loat mounting a lot, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy an artwork,’ says artist Kristjana S Williams. ‘It allows you to appreciate the piece on its own and experience the work as it is.’
There are several options for glazing – glass is used for smaller pieces whereas for work over 1m it’s a good idea to consider Perspex to reduce the piece’s overall weight. Anti-ref lective glass is also a good idea for works with a lot of black in them. ‘Getting the glass right is very important to the lifetime care of a piece,’ says Elizabeth Dellert, UK fair director, Affordable Art
Fair. ‘For instance, print colours and drawings fade if hung in sunlight, so think about upgrading to UV protective glass, which is a very worthwhile investment. For photographs or works that degrade easily, go for museum glass, which is much more expensive.’